Isaac Kolstad, the former Minnesota State University, Mankato linebacker critically injured in a May 11 fight, is improving bit by cautious bit, according to a recent post on CaringBridge.

On a post titled "Day 13," Mike Fleming wrote Saturday night that Kolstad was entirely off sedation medication, life support and able to breathe on his own. Kolstad continues to be in a coma, although it's no longer a medically induced one, according to the CaringBridge entry.

Last week, the Kolstad ­family said on CaringBridge that the swelling in Isaac's brain had gone down.

"It is such a relief to see Isaac relaxed today as the struggle for him to remain stable off of the sedation medications was incredibly emotional," Fleming wrote in the Saturday posting.

Kolstad, 24, who suffered a fractured skull and other injuries, remains hospitalized at Mayo Clinic Health System.

He has a 3-year-old daughter, and his wife is pregnant.

Kolstad

Two men have been charged in the attack that left Kolstad injured, including former Gophers quarterback Philip Nelson.

James Walsh